by Felix Craft
“The first round goes to Thunder and Sparrow!” the mammoth projection announced from above. Cheers rose higher from the bleachers, as did the boos. I tried rising to my feet again and this time succeeded, though I swayed. What did he mean, the round went to them? I was still standing!
“Hey!” I yelled up at the big hologram, waving my arms over my head, though the movement made me dizzy. “I'm not dead! We haven't lost yet!”
Lord MythRune’s hologram peered down at me. “I'm sorry, Sonny. Your HP reached 0 while your partner was already down. If neither of you have HP, then you've lost the round.”
I slipped back to the ground, stunned. How the hell was I supposed to win now? I’d been counting on my glitch. It was the only thing that had gotten us this far. Maybe it would still be useful so long as Leesha was alive, but apparently that wasn’t something to rely on.
“So much for being Deathless!” Sparrow called from the other side of Lord MythRune. I grimaced, and the mage laughed at my expression. “Come now, don’t be mad. You can't expect your cheat to always work!”
“You will be granted a five-minute recess,” Lord MythRune said. “After that time, the second round will commence.”
“What about Leesha?” But as I spoke, a figure began to form next to me. At the same time, Leesha's bloody corpse disappeared. Soon, my companion was standing fully-formed before me, blinking and disoriented as she stared at her respawning hands.
I surprised myself by pulling her into a brief hug as soon as she was solid again. Apparently, it surprised her too, and she lingered for a moment before extricating herself. “Z.”
“In case you didn't realize already, we lost.”
She wasn't nearly as upset as I’d thought she would be, or hoped. She just looked … resigned. “I know.”
I let it go, though. No point in picking a fight if I could help it. We retreated to the opposite side of the arena as Loki’s pair, and I recounted the brief action that had occurred after Leesha’s death. “We gotta go for the mage.”
Leesha nodded briefly. “Go for the mage.”
I stared at her. We only had a minute or so left before the next round was set to begin. “Are you sure you’re okay?” It was hard to keep my tone even though when I felt the impatience of the competition pumping inside me.
“I’m fine,” Leesha said too quickly. Then she turned away.
I frowned, but it was time — time to get our asses handed to us once more, unless we could take down Sparrow.
We took up positions, little changed from the first time, except now I had a javelin in hand and Leesha had two throwing knives. We saw last time that the mage had held back while Thunder charged forward to meet us. This time, the idea was to split to either side and run toward Sparrow that way. Thunder would be forced to choose one of us to go after, so it at least gave the other person a chance to get at the witch.
Lord MythRune’s voice echoed through the arena. “The second round begins in 3… 2… 1.”
There was a clap like two boulders crashing together, and the huge hologram disappeared. Again, Leesha and I started running forward. About a fourth of the way across, we split, each dashing toward our respective side of the arena. Thunder, who had been charging at us, stuttered to a halt for a moment, head whipping this way and that, until he decided which way to go. At me, as it turned out.
I grinned as I ran around the edge, the big man rushing to cut me off. I remembered well enough from football what it looked like when you were running the ball and about to get cut off. Thunder would easily do it. Unless I busted out the old moves.
Just as he reached me, I pivoted around him with a well-practiced spin that I’d used hundreds of times in football games. Thunder probably hadn’t had it happen to him before. He completely fell for it and whirled by, stumbling. I didn’t stop to evaluate my lead, but burst into a sprint. With any luck, I’d reach Sparrow before Thunder became relevant.
As I dashed towards the mage, she narrowed her eyes at me. Leesha was charging in from Sparrow’s other side, but it looked like I had the attention of both of Loki’s champions. All the better. Leesha would be more effective at taking out the mage anyway.
I was forty feet off, thirty feet, twenty — then Sparrow finally launched her attack. With the same paralysis as before, my muscles seized up and I went down painfully mid-stride. I heard Thunder thumping up behind me, coming closer and closer. No doubt I’d meet a swift end again. I only hoped Leesha would get in close enough for her attack.
The hammer blow fell, and the world faded to black for a moment. Then I jolted with the respawn glitch, life kicking back into me. I coughed and rose to hands and knees, then lifted my head to survey the scene. My hopes instantly fell. Before my eyes, Leesha was thrown to the ground by Thunder, and the mage threw a ball of fire down onto her. I didn’t doubt she was down for the count again.
Frustration boiled inside me and thrust me back into a stumbled run. Triggering Juggernaut, I charged for the mage, wanting only to take her down once, even if it wouldn’t mean victory. My expectations had fallen far.
I didn’t get the satisfaction. As I bore down on Sparrow, Thunder whirled past her and laid me low again with his hammer. Pain lanced through me, as did the familiar unconsciousness. When I came to, I didn’t bother moving. The crowd roared their approval, their disapproval, or maybe just to make noise. Who cared? It was over.
We weren’t going to win. They just had too many advantages over us. And when we lost the next round, that meant I was stuck here. I wouldn’t get my chance to talk to Lord MythRune, to explain to him that I was stuck here, to ask him to get ahold of Danny for me. I’d be stuck in this stupid game until my real body decayed in that creepy chair, and all for what? Because I tried helping out an old friend.
It was all so stupid, really, in the end. Pointless. Though maybe it was a bit ironic to get killed by the game that I was trying to kill. Like the game itself was fighting back.
Suddenly, I was being pulled to my feet. “Can’t stay there all day,” Leesha said, throwing one of my arms over her shoulders and dragging me along. “Come on. I’ve got something to say.”
I let her lead me, barely cooperating enough to shuffle my feet. I just felt drained. I didn’t want to try again just to get hit down into the dust again. I was tired of feeling the pain, tired of trying. Give me the bum knee again. It was better than this.
Leesha led us to one side of the arena, again opposite of Loki’s champions. A quick glance their way told me all I needed to know about how they were feeling. You’d think I should have to bow to approach them from the way they strutted about. I glowered to see it but just sighed. There was nothing I could do to put them in their place.
Leesha’s slap caught me by surprise, though at this point, it probably shouldn’t have. “Snap out of it.”
I glared at her. “What’s the point? You got struck down out there the same as me. No way we can win this.”
Her jaw tightened, and her eyes flicked up to the stands behind me. I followed her gaze, but between the haziness of the arena dome and the distance to the stands, I couldn’t tell if she was actually looking at anything. “Hello?” I said, annoyed. “You just going to drag me up again to ignore me?”
Leesha snapped back into focus and leaned close. “Listen,” she whispered urgently. “I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I — I’ve been throwing this match.”
Only the surprise saved her from me throwing her to the ground. “You what?”
“I know,” she said quickly. “I had very good reasons for it, I promise. But I can’t do it, Z. Seeing you collapsed out there — knowing what we’d both be giving up — I can’t do what they want me to.”
It was too easy to guess, even if it still didn’t make sense. “The Sisters of Evenfall. But why would they not want us to win?”
“Because of you. You, your glitch — you’re a liability to them. If and when the admins come down on you — and I really think they will after
this — the Sisters don’t want to be caught up with you at all.”
Even admins coming to arrest me sounded tempting at this point. At least they might prevent me from dying, even if it probably meant jail for the rest of my life. Still, if Leesha had been throwing the match, that meant…
“So, leading lady,” I said with all the charm I could muster. “What tricks are you going to pull out to help us win the day?”
She laughed, more genuine and happy than I’d heard in days. Leesha was back, in a big way. “I guess you’ll just have to see. The round’s about to start.”
My battle-axe had somehow gotten back in its scabbard, and I drew it out. “Which one am I going for?”
“The big guy,” Leesha said. “Leave the mage to me.”
I’d heard that before, but as Lord MythRune’s hologram boomed, “Let the round begin!” I knew I had to trust she really was back. It was time to do what we’d come here to. It was time to win.
31
Comeback Kids
Of course, as I ran out in the middle while Leesha fanned to the side, I didn’t feel so confident with Thunder bearing down on me. But what else could I do? I grit my teeth, set my feet, and prepared to meet his charge.
“Death-less! Death-less!” the giant mocked as he bore down on me, leading with a great hammer swing. I dodged and pivoted, then cut my axe around to cut at his side, but his armor blocked the blow.
We practically danced through the next few exchanges, spinning our heavy weapons around like batons before we used the momentum to lash out at each other. I was really getting the feel for the battle now, as good as when I’d taken down all those bandits with my noob band. The only difference was here, I couldn’t take even a single hit if I wanted to stay up and fighting.
I had a close call, barely ducking a hit that would have otherwise taken off my head, but it was also the opportunity I’d been waiting for. My axe snaked out for his ankle and hooked around it. Hook and sinker. Or rather, Hook and Hack. With as great a pull as I’d ever managed, I toppled Thunder onto his back and brought the axe around to chop at his leg. Finally, I scored a hit, the blade finding a chink in his armor and biting into the flesh beneath.
But the big man was far from down. In fact, my hit had only taken a tenth of his HP. I had a long way to go before I finished him off.
Pulling my axe free, I leaped back. Just in time — the giant came up swinging, and his hammer whirled through the air where I’d been a moment before. But he was still off balance, and I couldn’t let the opportunity go to waste. Roaring, I pressed my advantage, coming at him with Flurry Blow. My SP was starting to lag, with less than a third left, but I didn’t have the luxury to let up. I managed another hit or two, but they did little more than take another 10% of his HP. And for my efforts, I received a clip to my left elbow, making it explode with pain and costing me a quarter of my health.
Holding my arm to my torso, I backed away, while Thunder fully got his feet under him and advanced. Things weren’t looking good. I glanced over at where I’d last seen Leesha and Sparrow, expecting the worst, but I all I saw was a single body lying on the ground. From this distance and at my quick glance, I couldn’t tell who it was. Worry gnawed at my stomach. Could Sparrow be somewhere near, just waiting for her opportunity to strike?
Thunder glanced over in the same direction and grinned. “Look like your girl’s down for the count. Ready to join her?”
I didn’t bother responding, but leaped forward with my axe leading, my hurt elbow burning as I swung. Apparently Thunder had been waiting for that. He knocked my axe down with his hammer and dealt me a backhand blow to my head with a gauntleted fist. My vision exploded with stars, and I stumbled back.
“You feel it all somehow, don’t you?” Thunder observed as I scrambled away from him. He didn’t sound like he cared too much about my pain. Just curious.
“Maybe,” I said as we circled.
He looked content to keep me at a distance. No wonder — he thought it was Leesha down and Sparrow would be coming to finish me off shortly. Why do more work than he had to?
“Should code your cheats better,” the meathead advised. “Doesn’t do you much good to never die if you feel the pain.”
“Just shut up and fight.” I tested his defenses with an attack. I didn’t expect anything to come of it, but if it was Leesha out, I didn’t have long to take down this giant, and I had 80% of his HP to go. But once again, Thunder was ready for my attack. As he parried and tried dealing a counterblow, I sidled away from him once more.
“Decide what you want,” Thunder said, sounding bored. He started to spin his hammer, just for the heck of it, or so it seemed. I grit my teeth. Even though I knew he was trying to get under my skin, it didn’t help me not let him.
Suddenly, Thunder stiffened and gasped, and the hammer went spinning from his hands. For a moment, I didn’t know what to do or what was happening. Then Thunder spun and flailed about.
A figure danced away from him.
“Leesha!” I gasped as she evaded the big man’s attacks.
“Hey, Z.” My companion grinned briefly at me as she got out of Thunder’s range. Then she drew two knives. I discovered where her other pair had gone when Thunder turned his back on me. Two hilts stuck out of gaps in his armor near his shoulders, and streaks of red ran down the seams. Miraculously, he was down to 30% HP, and a Bleeding condition made his HP keep falling.
“Damn it!” Thunder shouted, his voice going into a whine. He seized his hammer from the ground and charged at Leesha.
But I was over my surprise and ready to take advantage of the situation. Running after him, I swung my axe down on his neck with all my strength. It burst through the chainmail protecting his neck, and the blade bit in deep.
“Augh!” With a strangled cry, Thunder fell to his knees. Leesha moved swiftly in and finished him off with a cut across the throat, stepping lightly away and grinning at me as she did. Our competitor fell forward, lifeless.
This time, I was awake as the crowd came alive with a roar. “Death-less! Death-less!” broke through the rest of the noise, and I grinned and waved my bloody hands in the air. We’d won. Somehow, we’d actually won against the pair.
For one round, at least.
The realization that we had to do what we’d just done two more times sobered my excitement. Still, Leesha actually trying seemed to be working. I had so many questions to ask her for our next break. But we took a moment to soak in the glory. She looked to be enjoying herself now, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
As soon as Lord MythRune’s projection appeared, though, I pulled her back to our side. “What the hell did you do out there?” I asked, not bothering to disguise my amazement.
She smirked at me. “What? You didn’t think I’d shown you all my tricks, did you? Please. My faction bonuses are bonkers.”
“Faction bonuses? What exactly did you do?”
“Silenced that bitch to start. Then I snuck up on her with an invisibility skill. Not bad, eh? Probably why you didn’t see me afterward, too.”
I stared at her. “Those both sound way too powerful.”
“Not if you have simple items that counteract them. Apparently, this pair didn’t bother to prepare. Maybe they thought we were too low level for that sort of thing.” She snorted. “Over-confident amateurs.”
I thought about what I was hearing. “So, these faction bonuses… you only have them so long as you’re part of, you know, you faction.”
Leesha stiffened. “Yeah. But that’s okay. I’m sure we’ll both get great offers from factions when this is all over.”
“Right.” I thought again. “What did you say your job back in the real world was again?”
Leesha stared flatly at me. “I didn’t. But that doesn’t matter. Shouldn’t we be concentrating on the game here?”
I reluctantly agreed, and in our last two minutes of break, we came up with a rough plan for our next round of attacks. Still, I was bothered
by Leesha probably getting kicked out of the Sisters of Evenfall if we won. It seemed like she relied on them a lot. The prize money was quite a bit, but it would run out fast if it was all she had for income. And I had a feeling the Sisters, from my interactions with them so far, could keep away other factions if they wanted to. Whatever shitty job waited for Leesha in the real world, if she won this, she could be going back to it.
But I had to get out of here. I couldn’t worry about Leesha now. We would win first, and worry about the rest later.
We squared off again, and as soon as Lord MythRune announced it, we launched our attack. As I ran toward Thunder again, I felt way different than I had the time before. This time, I felt like we couldn’t lose. Leesha had given me a taste of victory, and I found it was to my liking.
Unfortunately, a bit too much of it had gone to my head. As I headed off the big man before he could intercept Leesha, he whirled on me and his hammer knocked me to the ground. I was knocked out once more for a moment, and jolted awake the next. Groaning, I stood back up. It felt like I’d died again, but I at least wasn’t out long. Thunder had only engaged Leesha.
That wasn’t how the plan was supposed to go, but I went with it. If Leesha had done her part, Sparrow should have been silenced by now. I hoped it was true as I crossed the rest of the arena to get to where she waited. She hadn’t had any weapons before, and I expected the same, but this time, she had a long pole in hand. I grinned to myself. Hardly a weapon that mattered.
She quickly showed me how wrong I was. As I charged in to sweep at her, she didn’t even let me get close, but tripped me up with her eight-foot pole, then whacked me over the head. I was barely to hands and knees before she smacked both hands with the stick. The snaps sounded like bones breaking. Felt like it, too. “What the fuck!” I stumbled away from her. My hands hurt too much to even take my axe with me.